Land Surveying For Dummies

I have been surveying for over 20 years now but mainly internal measured building surveys. I have always used Leica total stations but only for odd shaped buildings, elevations and small topos (only one or two set-ups). Any large topo surveys, I have always used a Leica GPS rover.

My problem is (and this will be Surveying 101 for the majority of you.!) I am now starting to carry out larger, more complex topos with the total station but do not have the knowledge to tie the different set-ups into a single job.

I am using a Leica TS06 and need a button-by-button guide to setting up stations and backsights.

Replies to This Discussion

Yikes! Cheers on your 20 years, but you need a mentor!!! Cheers on Leica Total stations, as well - best in the business!!!!!!

I'm training another carpenter on-site and just wrote instructions for a Leica TS12 Robot, based on running MicroSurvey Field Genius on a field tablet. Are you running the TS06 on-board or with a data collector?

Can't find work? Wow - not so much about WHAT you know as WHO you know.... Tons of work in the US for qualified surveyors, especially offshore! If you need some connections over here, I might be able to help!

Fair question Dean.!
I have had a long and successful career carrying out measured building surveys so have had no real need for the topo side. The main reason I joined the site was for help and advice in this area.

I haven't used on-board data collection in many moons, but I hope the attached .pdf helps. I prefer almost any data collector (DC) to running on-board, especially Leica's on-board setup. You can purchase awesome DC's for less than $3000 anymore; cheap compared to the headaches of collecting on your TS.

I am always happy to help other surveyors, no matter their level of experience. However, you did kinda open up a can of worms; if you really do have 26 years experience, you might want to be careful on what you post/ask. Total Station setup really should be like falling of a log to a seasoned professional....

I haven't used onboard data collection in many moons, but I hope the attached .pdf helps.

I am based in Devon and also carry out topos and measured building surveys. I regularly carry out multiple station surveys and then process the data straight off the TS in LSS then into vectorworks (or autocad if you want) I use a system that I was shown by the guys at LSS up in Gloucester. It maybe mutually beneficial if we could talk further?

Land Surveyors United is the world's FIRST Global Social Network for geospatial professionals. We have dedicated, geolocated support groups for practically every country, continent and state on earth, for you to utilize for building your personal network. We are all essentially concerned with the same issues, no matter where we are located on earth. However, surveying practices and methods vary depending on the geographic location where we work. If you have noticed similarities and differences between the conditions, laws and practices between two or more areas of the world,discuss it in this forum. Build your reputation online by posting relevant discussions in your local group below.